San Diego

A man suspected of robbing an East San Diego bank Monday afternoon was arrested minutes after the robbery by a police officer who became suspicious when he saw the man running across the street.

Christopher Simpson was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery by San Diego Police Sgt. Christopher Ball, police spokesman Bill Robinson said. Ball was patrolling the 4300 block of University Avenue at 1:24 p.m. Monday when he saw a man run across the street carrying a purse, Robinson said. The officer pursued the man by car and on foot, catching him in an alley in the 3000 block of Fairmount Avenue.

At the time of his arrest, Simpson was carrying a .357-caliber handgun and $1,500 in large bills, Robinson said. At 1:26 p.m., police received a report that the California First Bank in the 4300 block of University had just been robbed.

Simpson was in custody Monday night at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.